Windsor, Kay

The Kay Windsor label was formed in 1940 by the Kay Windsor Frocks company of Boston, Massachusetts. They were a maker of moderately-priced dresses. In 1954 Kay Windsor Frocks produced a line of “Private Secretary” dresses in conjunction with a popular television program of the same name. The star of the show, Ann Sothern, was featured in the dress advertisements, saying “a dress chosen especially for you by Ann Sothern.”

Kay Windsor was bought by Vanity Fair in 1971 as part of that company’s plan to expand into women’s knitwear. At that time Kay Windsor was making five lines of dresses and women’s sportswear.

In 1977 Vanity Fair had an agreement with JC Penney in which Kay Windsor dresses were sold under the Penney’s label, but sales were poor. In 1982 the Kay Windsor division was discontinued by Vanity Fair.

Written by fuzzylizzie

from a 1940s dress

Courtesy of bombshell*frocks

from a 1950s-1960s dress

Courtesy of Wildman Vintage

from an early 1960s dress

Courtesy of crinolinegirl

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of Vintagiality

from a late 1960s dress

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage